Dear friends of the California wild,
2024 has been a banner year for conservation accomplishments!
In a single year, we have seen adoption of the Public Lands Rule by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the expansion of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, as well as the signing of a planning document for northwest California BLM lands covering hundreds of thousands of acres and with many positive provisions for our forests and northern ecosystems.
It’s a lot to celebrate. CalWild played important roles in these accomplishments and we still hope to see one or more new national monuments declared in the waning days of the Biden Administration,
As the year has drawn down, however, the news has become challenging. The federal elections did not result in good outcomes for those of us who care about conservation of our air, water, wildlife and ecosystems on federal public lands and waters.
Here at CalWild, we’ve been through this once. I know that many of us are deeply concerned about the incoming administration and the prospects for our public lands in the next few years. We can and do anticipate that our work in the coming few years is going to require a lot of defense.
But being advocates and organizers for California’s wild places isn’t always about achieving the next “win”. Sometimes it’s about defending what has been accomplished already, and mobilizing the public support that ensures it will endure going forward.
Fortunately, love for wild places cuts across political lines. CalWild allies and members include hunters, anglers and many other groups that care deeply about our state’s forests, mountains, deserts, rivers and coasts. Through those alliances, we will show even those opposed to protecting our wild lands that there is a political cost to be paid for despoiling them.
I know that many of us are shocked by the election results and feeling dismayed at the prospect of the next few years. But I can promise you this: CalWild isn’t going anywhere, and all our experience, skill and effort is going to be applied to ensuring not only that as little harm to our wild places as possible occurs, but that we may even achieve the occasional victory by working with state, regional and local partners to protect special places that aren’t on federal lands.
We’re an agile organization, so we can pivot quickly. Your support enables us to remain flexible and strong.
As we end the holiday season, I hope you will consider a generous tax-deductible gift to CalWild, your voice for the California wild.
Our very best to you and yours with the dawning New Year!
As always, for the wild,
Mark Green
Executive Director
Photos by Ben Hogan and Diane Nemea Laessig
